Mint eoss



(No Model.)

L. ROSS.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 393,343. Patented Nov.- Z0, 1888.

afagetle Ross.

N. Pneus. mwmhegnpmf. wur-wan. u. c.

' draw-heads.

UNITED STATES l PATENT intron,

LAFAYETTE ROSS, OF GILKERSON, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS TO EVIR- MINT ROSS, LEWIS M. GILKERSON, ALBERT L. ROSS, AND LEANDER GILKERSON, JR., ALL OF'BEACH FORKS, WEST VIRGINIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,343, vdated November 20, 1888.

Application filed June 2B, 1888. Serial No. 279,469. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LAFAYETTE Ross, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Gi1kerson,in the county of Wayne and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this speciiication.

This invention relates to that class of carcouplers in which the coupling is effected through the instrumentality of a link and pin.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, efficient, and inexpensive coupler of this class embodying features to render the coupling operation automatic and to avoid the loss of links and pins.

With this object in view the invention consists in novel features of construction and combinations to bc hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in perspective a draw-head fitted with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally through two coupled Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective a draw-head provided with an abutment for tripping the trigger on the opposite drawhead The draw-head A may be of the ordinary form and may be secured to the carin the ordinary position; but as the coupling-pin D (herein shown) is spring-actuated, and not a gravity-pin, I prefer that lthe mouth a of the link-socket shall flare vertically, instead of horizontally, as is usual,the pin being arranged to slide horizontally, as shown.

Projecting from the face of the draw-head A and coincident with the pin-aperture is a tube, B, provided about midway of its length with lugs b, between which is pivoted an L-shaped trigger, C, the short arm of which passes through an opening, b', formed near the outer end ofthe tube. Between the inner end of this lever C and the tube B is arranged a spring, C', tending to press said inner end of the lever outward from the tube in the direction of the next adjacent car, and in consequence forcing the short arm c of the trigger inward through the opening b in the outer end of the tube. These parts are so proportioned and arranged that the inner end of the trigger C will project slightly beyond the face of the draw-head A, in order that it may be engaged and operated by a similar trigger or a projecting abutment, A', carried by the draw-head of another car.

Within thetubc B is seated a coupling-pin, D, similar in all respects to those ordinarily used, except that it is longer and provided at a distance equal to the distance between the inner wall of the draw-head to the short arm of the lever C with a depression or groove, d, and has projecting from its upper end a stud, d, upon which rests the outer or free end of a spring, E, the stress of which is exerted to press the pin inward to the position assumed when holding one end of the coupling-link. The inner or Xed end or" this spring is secured to the draw-head or any other available xed point. To the outer end of the pin is secured one end of a pull-rod, F, the other end ofwhich passes through an eye or staple, f, secured near the end of the end sill of the car, and is provided with a handle, f, by means of which the coupling-pinl may be withdrawn from a link to uncouple the cars.

The draw-heads are provided with abutment-plates A to trip the trigger on the opposite draw-head when two cars are brought together, thus releasing the coupling-pin from the lever, in order that it may be thrust through the link by its spring.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. In a car coupler of the character deseribed,the combination of the draw-head provided at one side with a tubearranged in a plane with the pin openings, the grooved coupling-pin seated in said tube, a spring arranged to press the pin inward, and a springpressed trigger pivoted to the tube and provided with an L.ar1n to project through an opening in the tube and engage the groove of the coupling-pin when the latter is withdrawn from :i link, substantially as described.

2. In a. car coupler of the character described,the combination ofthe draw-heed provided at one side with a horizontal tube arranged in line with the pin -openings, the grooved pin sented therein, a spring secured to the draw-head to press the pin inward, a pull-rod secured at one end to the head of the coupling-pin aud provided at its outer end with a handle, a. guide for the outer end of the pull-rod, a trigger pivoted to the horizontal tube and provided at one end with an L-ar1n 'to engage the groove ofthe pin,and shaped at I5 the other end to project slightly beyond the face of the draw-head, and an abutment-plate secured to the draw-head of an adjacent car to engage the projecting end of the trigger and release the coupling-pin, substantially as de- 2o scribed.

In testimony whereof I nillx my signutu re in presence of two witnesses.

LAFAYETTE ROSS. \Vitnesses:

W. A. DEAN, A. G. TONEY. 

